Sunday, July 21, 2013

BlurbGold Roger was known as the Pirate King, the strongest and most infamous being to have sailed the Grand Line. The capture and death of Roger by the World Government brought a change throughout the world. His last words before his death revealed the location of the greatest treasure in the world, One Piece. It was this revelation that brought about the Grand Age of Pirates, men who dreamed of finding One Piece (which promises an unlimited amount of riches and fame), and quite possibly the most coveted of titles for the person who found it, the title of the Pirate King.Enter Monkey D. Luffy, a 17-year-old boy who defies the standard definition of a pirate. Rather than the popular persona of a wicked, hardened, toothless pirate who ransacks villages for fun, Luffy’s reason for being a pirate is one of pure wonder; the thought of an exciting adventure and meeting new and intriguing people, along with finding One Piece. Following in the footsteps of his childhood hero, Luffy and his crew travel across the Grand Line, experiencing crazy adventures, unveiling dark mysteries and battling strong enemies, all in order to reach One Piece.Alternative namesワンピース海贼王원피스One PieceĐảo hải tặcÉén stukAll'ArrembaggioJeden KawałekO piesăΝτρέικون بيس ، قطعة واحدة Bir ParçaIsang pirasoBudak Getahวัน พีซStatusOngoingManga reader sites (free)Manga FoxRosy's scrawlings on One PieceThis is one of the most enjoyable mangas I've ever read. It is pure, light-hearted and full of fun. There's a range of characters fighting a range of personal issues, with enemies becoming friends and friends becoming enemies or at least combatants. All within the quick paced and unpredictable world of pirates and sea monsters. The story is one revolving around a giant treasure hunt but it is the varied desires, struggles and goals of each character that is most important and what adds depth and heart to the story.The story follows Luffy, with his name in translation occasionally changing, as he goes from being a very young boy desiring of being a pirate to a young man gathering his pirate crew, setting out to the Grand Line and doing battle with various opponents. Of the crew he gathers there's a thief wanting to rescue her village, a swordsman wanting to become the best in the world, a chef who wants to find the utopian bright blue (I think it is called - something blue, anyway) and so on. Everyone wants something different but they all band together with Luffy, one who has eaten a Devil's Fruit that gives him the stretchy powers of rubber because Luffy accepts their goals, helps them unequivocally and brings a blast of life, fun and freedom to their lives. Luffy is the embodiment of a freedom and adventure loving pirate, no more, no less.The manga is made of short instalments of a giant adventure, reducing the reading drag long volumes can create. The action is quick and the characters strange and varied, although many identify as pirates, islanders or marines. The sea voyages are broken up by island landings, fights between pirates, boat chases, monster attacks and even a wild storm or two. Like many a manga there's more than a few face-offs between enemies but they are far less structured and often reflect the sneaky nature of the more violent and nasty pirates. On top of this, the Devil's Fruit that Luffy ate wasn't the only one. Others with strange powers abound, often being marines or pirates themselves. The art of One Piece is mostly made up of light lines and lots of white but darkness and shadows are introduced not through shading but with solid black, creating enormous depth on occasion. There's plenty of texture and an emphasis on the odd and comical. Expressions and physical features are often far from realistic and only add to the unique nature of the art. Overall, the art is as enjoyable as the story, both being light and bright as well as coloured with heavier issues.I'd recommend this manga to: everyone male and female, young and old.Notes on manga reader sitesThe quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

The best of the best fictional serial killers are written and sometimes acted well enough to escape some, but rarely all, of the below problems. Fiction just can't reflect the true horror of reality in the case of serial killers, no matter how much they make you, the audience member, squirm.

1. In fiction, there isn't enough shock in the discovery of hidden horrors.2. In fiction, the serial killer is glorified.3. The extended efforts everyone makes to try to understand why is, for the most part, absent from fiction.4. In fiction, the slow development of the killer and his crimes is cast aside for sudden gory awakenings.

5. The mix of victim and killer often present in the serial killer's personality and experience is underplayed or non-existent in fiction.6. The serial killer's often overpowering, disturbing personality and misfit nature is ignored in fiction for the killer's ability to blend in and appear normal.7. The serial killer's dysfunctional psychology is underplayed in fiction for a functional pattern of behaviour that leads to a repetition of kills.

8. The unplanned and rather opportunistic nature of many of the real serial killer's kills is lost for a pattern and a comprehensible reason to kill.9. The lasting filth and bodily remains surrounding a serial killer is often left out of the fiction for a focus on initial gore and a clean disposal that justifies why everyone around them didn't notice.10. The physical appearance of the real serial killer is often far less attractive, though frequently normal enough, than those of fictional killers.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

BlurbKyouhei, after moving away to Tokyo from his old town to get away from the events that happened, is on a goukon with his friends, including his old neighbor, Shiba. After drinking for a whole night, he and Shiba discover a dead, bloody, body in the elevator. He is told by his younger sister, Utao with her Kamisama Doll, that Aki, an old friend, and his Doll, are the culprits responsible.Alternative namesKami-sama DollsGod Dolls神样DOLLS神様ドォルズDolls of GodGod's DollsStatusOngoingManga reader sitesManga Reader, Manga FoxRosy's scrawlings on Kamisama DollsKamisama Dolls is a slower moving manga than most that focus on action and mystery. There's a thoughtfulness about the story telling that adds depth to both the characters and the unusual situations. The story begins by focusing on Kyouhei for the most part, but it expands as the action progresses to incorporate his family, friends and even his enemies. Kyouhei is on the run from his past, attempting to carve out a new life for himself in the city. There's a girl he's interested in but hasn't had much luck with and a generally normal student life to follow. But all this is destroyed when a murder is committed, the body left in the lift Kyouhei had to take in order to leave a party he'd passed out at. From there, Kyouhei's past comes back to haunt him in the guise of Aki, an old and violently unstable friend. Aki has escaped from the village where both boy's had grown up and he's seeking something from Kyouhei, be it revenge or a connection. Neither Aki nor Kyouhei know just what Aki wants but either way, Aki is being hunted by several villagers and their god-like weapons they call dolls.This manga is one that neatly ties together psychology and action by focusing less on the technology and insane fights and more on the reasons for said fights and the twisted histories of the characters involved. Motivations are slowly revealed and the past delved into when necessary, and not before. There's a ponderous feel to the story, even as the fights escalate and this is partly because of the psychology and character history that's explored and partly because of the steady pacing. The dolls themselves invade the murder and mayhem of the rest of the story in a psychedelic manner, an addition that's both pleasing and strange in proper manga fashion. The dolls are made using an old technology that includes some mysterious elements. Elements that create a psychic connection between a person and the machine. Of course, such power has come to be misused and this in itself has caused many to want to either fight or destroy the entire village that is the dolls' origins.The art of Kamisama Dolls is smooth and there's a spaciousness to many of the panels that increases the reserved or ponderous feel of the story. The focus is on expressions, mainly as each character encounters strife or a challenge. The action occurs in short stretches but it is smooth and doesn't dramatically alter the pace of the story. For the most part the art is grey and slightly scratching, with harsher lines and shades used to characterise and build mood. Only the dolls have a smooth gloss but this fits in with them being seen as god-like for generations. In all, the art perfectly reflects the same divisions and story elements as the dialogue.I'd recommend this manga to: those interested in strange technologies, psychic abilities, murder mysteries, explorations of past trauma, conspiracies and the odd additions to story telling that come along with most mangas.Notes on manga reader sitesThe quality of manga readers can vary. The uploads are often done cheaply or as a serious hobby by a collective. Be aware that sometimes licence hasn't been given but the sites noted above, Manga Fox in particular, are extremely careful about adding and pulling mangas according to license agreements. So you shouldn't have to worry too much about the material being pirated. There are also translated works and non-translated. Amongst the translated works you will find that the quality of translation may vary according to the skills of the translators. Usually the works are perfectly readable anyway, with only a few added or dropped words or a word in the incorrect tense or with/out plurals. But sometimes the text becomes gobbledygook. In which case, either seek another version or give up and buy an official copy once a printed translation comes out. The other issue of note is you may need to expand the screen to read the text easily as sometimes the scans are minimised a little.I find that if a page doesn't download properly or some other issue occurs (too slow or someone ordered the pages incorrectly etc.) with one reader then skipping across to another reader and picking up where I was is quite easy and rarely annoying.Otherwise, enjoy and watch out you don't get too addicted you forget about the necessary things in life.

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This blog is for exploring anything and everything as long as it relates, somehow, to fiction. Reading, writing, editing, noting down hobbies, scribbles, illustrations, diaries, readers groups, research projects, mad ideas that need a writer, the life of a writer, inspirations and frustrations. All will be scrawled up for you to read.